The Akita

Loyal friend from the Land of the Rising Sun

"Excuse me, but what kind of dog is that? He looks just like a big bear!"

Chances are, the questioner has just met an Akita, a Natural Treasure of Japan.

Akitas are most striking and impressive creatures with an attitude of nobility
and an appearance of strength and power. Their most noticeable physical characteristic
is a large, bear-like head with erect, triangular ears set at a slight angle
following the arch of the neck. They have thick, stand-offish coats, and tight
cat feet, well knuckled up. Their tails curl over the top of the back in a graceful
sweep down the loin, into a gentle curl, or into a double curl. Their colors
are rich and clear, like paint on a canvas.

Mature males measure at least 25 inches at the withers and weigh more than
100 pounds. Mature females measure at least 23 inches and weigh approximately
80 pounds.

Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973, the Akita is a rather new breed
in the United States. It has grown steadily in popularity, in part because of
its extraordinary appearance and in part because of its captivating personality.

The Akita character is the result of centuries of breeding in Japan. Japanese
history, both verbal and written, describe the Akita as one of the oldest of
the native dogs. Centuries ago the breed was owned only by the Shogun, the imperial
leaders of the country. The Akita developed in the Akita prefecture, the northernmost
region of the island of Honshu. Bred to hunt, guard, and herd, this swift, agile,
unswervingly tenacious dog tracked large game and held it at bay until the royal
hunters arrived to make the kill. The Akita's quarry included elk, antelope,
boar, and the 800-pound Yezo bear.

As a guard dog, the Akita was unsurpassed in its keen senses of smell, sight,
and hearing. By nature a quiet dog that barked only when threatened, the breed
needed no training in its guard duties. As a herding dog, it fiercely protected
livestock from savage predators in the mountainous terrain of Akita Prefecture.

During the late 1800s, the Akita breed suffered two major setbacks. First,
the Akita was crossed with the Japanese fighting dog, the Tosa. This crossbreeding
resulted in a dog of imposing size and aggression used extensively when dog
fighting was a popular sport in Japan. Then, at the turn of the century, Japan
had a fatal outbreak of rabies with more than 3000 cases reported. Dogs, both
healthy and affected, were clubbed to death.

However, three events focused positive attention on the breed in the early
1900s.

First was the story of Hachi-Ko, one of the most revered Japanese Akitas of
all time. He was born in 1923 and was owned by Professor Eizaburo Ueno of Tokyo.
Professor Ueno lived near the Shibuya Train Station in a suburb of the city
and commuted to work every day on the train. Hachi-Ko accompanied his master
to and from the station each day.

On May 25, 1925, when the dog was 18 months old, he waited for his master's
arrival on the four o'clock train. But he waited in vain; Professor Ueno had
suffered a fatal stroke at work. Hachi-Ko continued to wait for his master's
return. He traveled to and from the station each day for the next nine years.
He allowed the professor's relatives to care for him, but he never gave up the
vigil at the station for his master. His vigil became world renowned, and shortly
after his death, a bronze statue was erected at the train station in his honor.
Then, in 1931, The Akita was officially declared a Japanese Natural Monument.
The Mayor of Odate City in the Akita Prefecture organized the Akita Inu Hozankai
to preserve the original Akita as a national treasure through careful breeding.

The third positive event was the arrival of Helen Keller in Japan in 1937.
She expressed a keen interest in the breed and was presented with the first
two Akitas to enter the US. The first dog died at a young age, but the second
became Keller's constant companion until his death in 1945.

However, just as the breed was stabilizing in its native land, World War II
pushed the Akita to the brink of extinction. Early in the war the dogs suffered
from lack of nutritious food. Then many were killed to be eaten by the starving
populace, and their pelts were used as clothing. Finally, the government ordered
all remaining dogs to be killed on sight to prevent the spread of disease. The
only way concerned owners could save their beloved Akitas was to turn them loose
in the most remote mountain areas. There the breed's hardiness and keen hunting
instincts helped them survive the war years.

During the occupation years following the war, the breed began to thrive again.
US servicemen fell in love with the Akita and smuggled many of them into the
US when they returned.

The Akita today is a unique combination of dignity, courage, alertness, and
devotion to its family. It is extraordinarily affectionate and loyal with family
and friends, territorial about its property, and aloof with strangers. It is
feline in its actions; it is not unusual for an Akita to clean its face after
eating, to preen its kennel mate, and to be fastidious in the house.

Because it is a large dog, the Akita is certainly not a breed for everyone.
Its personality is that of a survivor. Even though centuries have passed since
the Shogun warrior owned Akitas, the breed still exhibits keen hunting prowess,
extraordinary strength and endurance, and the ability to survive on its own.
Akita owners must channel these attributes into early obedience training so
that their dogs become good canine citizens rather than neighborhood bullies.

The Akita learns quickly and can become bored easily. Those who don't understand
the breed often describe it as stubborn, when in fact, the dog is exhibiting
improper training. The Akita thrives on the love and respect of its master and,
with constant reinforcement training and a little creativity, can be a very
good worker.

The Akita was never bred to live or work in groups like many hound and sporting
breeds. Instead, they lived and worked singly or in pairs, a preference reflected
today. The individual Akita is happy being an only dog or one of two dogs in
a household, but can be very aggressive towards animals not part of his family
group, particularly strange dogs. A properly trained Akita will learn to tolerate
other animals and not go looking for trouble, but the owner must never forget
his dog's inherent drive to be top dog at almost any cost.

There are many pluses to owning an Akita. They are affectionate to their owners
and are excellent watchdogs, although they do not bark unless something is amiss.
They require only moderate exercise, adjust well to apartment living as long
as they receive daily walks, do not eat large quantities of food, and are long-lived.
Negatives to ownership include a twice-a-year shedding of the thick, downy undercoat;
the size and strength of the breed which, if not properly managed, can become
a nightmare; and the predisposition to be aggressive to other dogs.

Persons interested in owning an Akita should explore all available resources
before buying a puppy.

The worst mistake a prospective buyer can make is to buy on impulse. Before
purchasing a puppy, read all the information available on the breed. Go visit
all local breeders even if they have no puppies available.

Make a list of questions to ask each breeder
to find out about breeding programs, genetics, training, and written guarantees.
The knowledge the breeder shares with a buyer, the cleanliness of the kennel,
and the attitude of the dogs housed there will give a prospective buyer a good
idea of whether to do business with a specific breeder. Selecting the best breeder
to buy from is crucial to obtaining a quality puppy. Be prepared to wait for just
the right puppy. Responsible breeders plan their breedings carefully and may only
have one or two breedings per year.

Responsible breeders also temperament test their
puppies at seven weeks of age and diligently try to match puppy personalities
to family personalities. Remember, temperament is just as hereditary as physical
appearance. The bottom line is: Buy from an experienced breeder you can trust.
Since Akitas can live 12 years or more, careful shopping can insure the purchase
of a structurally healthy Akita with a good temperament.

Paula Drake

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